Rastriya Prajatantra Party lawmaker Saraswati Lama has demanded a serious scientific investigation into the unusual chemical smells and powder-like substances observed during the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli floods. Lama raised the issue at a meeting of the Parliamentary Special Committee on the Impact of Climate Change in the Himalayas, Climate Justice, and Bhote Koshi-Trishuli Disaster, a 15-member committee formed by the House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, in Singha Durbar on Tuesday, calling for the government’s attention to the unexplained phenomena.The lawmaker also urged the government to immediately relocate affected communities to safe areas, noting that the floods had caused extensive damage, destroying local settlements.
Devastating Flood Impact and Damage Assessment
The devastating flash flood, which originated in Tibet and entered Nepal via Rasuwa on August 26-27, 2026 (Bhadra 10, 2083 BS), caused widespread destruction across the Bhote Koshi, Trishuli, and Narayani river systems. Areas affected include Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan (riverine areas up to Muglin), and the broader Narayani river basin.Initial estimates suggest significant economic and infrastructure damage. Hydropower projects with a total generation capacity of 430 megawatts were damaged, leading to 430 megawatts of electricity being disconnected from the national grid. Additionally, 19 projects with a combined capacity of 620 megawatts are deemed immediately inoperable. The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation has made a preliminary estimate of up to Rs 390 billion for the reconstruction of damaged hydropower projects. A report presented to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation on September 21, 2026, indicated an initial economic loss of Rs 52.67 billion in the tourism sector.Beyond infrastructure, the floods destroyed 35 houses, 10 cattle sheds, 13 bridges, 5 industries, and 2 government offices. The disaster also led to the death of 67 livestock and displaced 97 families.Humanitarian impacts remain severe, with 1,117 Nepali and foreign citizens affected or missing as of September 21, 2026. While 310 individuals have been rescued and 13 have made contact, 794 people remain unaccounted for, including 606 foreign nationals and 188 Nepali citizens. Three unidentified bodies have been recovered along the Trishuli River. Five individuals were rescued and transported to Chakradev Hospital in Bidur Municipality-4, Nuwakot, though road access to Trishuli Hospital has been cut off due to damaged roads and bridges. Since August 30, 2026, the Nepal Police Hospital has been operating a five-bed Level-1 hospital in Bidur, Nuwakot, to provide health services to flood victims.
Government Response and Reconstruction Efforts
Prime Minister Balen Shah chaired the 21st meeting of the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Nepal’s disaster management body chaired by the Prime Minister, on Monday, October 5, 2026. The council decided to suspend non-essential search and rescue operations to intensify reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. It also resolved to recommend a budget of Rs 559.17 billion for 504 reconstruction and rehabilitation plans to the Ministry of Finance for approval.The Bagmati Province Government has put forward a plan to resettle flood-affected families in safe alternative locations, rather than rebuilding in high-risk areas. This initiative proposes developing integrated settlements by systematically managing 1,558 ropani of land through a ‘land pooling’ mechanism. Madhesh Province Chief Minister Krishna Yadav has expressed full support for the government’s decision to prioritize reconstruction.Prime Minister Shah stated that assessments of flood and landslide damage in the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli, Gandaki, and other regions are ongoing, with rehabilitation and reconstruction work progressing. He also highlighted the government’s preparations to strengthen and streamline early warning systems for disaster risk reduction and ongoing efforts to mitigate the risk of avalanches.
Scientific Inquiry and Parliamentary Oversight
While initial speculation attributed the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli flood to a glacial lake outburst or an earthquake-induced avalanche, current findings suggest that an ice-rock avalanche from the Nepal-China border region entering the river system caused the destructive flood, characterized by water, ice, and rocks. This was not a typical monsoon flood but a rapid, high-volume flow of ice, rocks, soil, and large debris.To investigate the disaster and its broader implications, the House of Representatives formed a 15-member “Parliamentary Special Committee on the Impact of Climate Change in the Himalayas, Climate Justice, and Bhote Koshi-Trishuli Disaster” on September 21, 2026. Ganesh Parajuli, Deputy Leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party parliamentary party, has been selected as the committee’s chairperson. The committee is mandated to submit its report within three months of its formation. Earlier, a report published by nmkhabar on October 5, 2026, estimated that reconstruction in the flood-affected areas could cost up to Rs 723 billion.
Unanswered Questions Remain
Despite ongoing efforts, several critical questions about the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli floods remain unanswered. The exact nature and source of the “unusual chemical smell” and “powder-like substance” observed during the floods have not yet been scientifically confirmed or detailed. The precise scientific cause of the flood, such as the specific type of landslide or its exact point of origin, is still under investigation.Furthermore, the full extent of human and economic losses, particularly the status of the many missing individuals, is still being assessed. The conclusions and recommendations of the Parliamentary Special Committee are pending. A detailed action plan and timeline for the implementation of the Rs 559.17 billion reconstruction and rehabilitation budget, as recommended to the Ministry of Finance, are yet to be released. The Bagmati Province Government has also stated that a detailed project report (DPR) for the integrated smart city settlements will be prepared as soon as possible. The nationalities of the 606 missing foreign citizens have not been specified.
